jillaroo":xf4uz3le said:
Another question for Dun, Cow Pollinator and others that AI; what would you recommend for someone looking to get into the AI industry as a technician? I took a week course a few years back and really enjoyed AI'ing. I have been considering a career redirection but have no idea how to get started and how to get GOOD at it.
Getting GOOD means getting into LOTS of cows and having a natural knack for it.
I've started quite a few breeders and the ones that succeed do it because they are interested in cows and genetics...period. Anyone only moderately interested or doing it for the money fails misserably.
I got my start by trying to make superior beef cattle with my dads cows when I was fifteen. I taught myself how to do it with internet and books without ever even seeing it done live. Once I got good at it I started knocking on doors at some BIG dairies even though I didn't know anything about dairy cows. I started as a relief breeder for a few "in house" breeders, which are dairy employees that do the breeding and rarely get days off, and before to long the semen companies were knocking on my door wanting to hire me.
To this day I have no formal training in AI but I've been doing it for a living for thirteen years and have taught a few people how to do for their living as well. Here's my advice for success:
1. Love all cattle. Even if she's chasing you down the ally, be thinking about what her strong points are and how to improve them and still fix the disposition.
2. Love genetics. The possibilities are endless and it's really where you make your money... Alot of customers don't get excited about their cattle, it's up to you to see the potential and steer them to it. You will have to show them what genetic improvement is worth and they'll follow your inthusiasm.
3. Accept that your opinions about cattle are always valid and voice them. Your customers won't always agree but they don't WANT a yes-man. They want a thinker that can solve their problems so that they don't have to. If you wait for them to come to you, they won't. You have to go out and tell them you're the best thing that's happened to the industry in years :nod:
4. Accept that NO amount of education will make you a good breeder or make anyone elses opinions better than yours. If you do this for a living, you're going to have to get used to strong-arming nutritionists and vets that have years of education backing them... They work in the world of how it's suposed to be and you live in the world of how it really is. You'll find that there is a big differance between the two.
PM me aytime. I'm used to helping people get started and I love to see it happen.